The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-30
THE CANCER AND THE CRAB.
A Curious Remedial Agent Used In Augusta
Live Crabs Applied.


Correspondence Charleston News and Courier
This morning, while on my rounds, l saw a
curious and wonderful remedy, which is said to
be a sure cure for cancer The case referred to
is that Of Mr.. Jacob Hertz, well-known Ger
man citizen of Augusta. While vending my
way up town. this morning, / was hailed by
gentleman who invited me to accompany him to
the room of the gentleman above mentioned, At
the same time stating that / would find 1t good
subject to write upon. Upon entering the room
we found a number of gentlemen, together with
Mr. Hertz, who was sitting in q rocking chair
with a large, common sea-crab clinging to his
neck Upon being asked about himself Mr.
Hertz stated that about year ago he was
troubled with q pimple on his tongue, which
gradually grew larger and larger until it devel-
oped into cancer He went to prominent New
York physician, who stated tEat the only rem
edy was to cut out the tongue Mr. Hertz con-
sented to this and his entire tongue, including the
root, was taken out A remarkable thing about
this is that. although his tongue is entirely gone
he can talk and be distinctly understood. After
his tongue WAS taken out he enjoyed perfect
health until about month ago. when another
cancer developed on the right side of his neck.
The most prominent physicians of the city were
called in, and after attending him for about .
week, pronounced it incurable, stating that it
was impossible for him to live more than few
days. About this time an old friend of his, VIM.
Voelker, visited his room ono day and stated
that he had discovered q remedy in an old Ger
man book, printed fifty years ago, which was
pronounced q positive cure for cancer This
remedy was to tie the claws of q crab and place
him on the wound, the book stating that it
would extract ali the virus from the wound and
then expire Although Mr. Hertz's life had been
despaired Of by his friends they decided to try
this remedy as q last resort Accordingly they
obtained a basket Of crabs from Charleston
and tried them, putting the first enc on
about ten days ago. At that time the
wound was fully two inches in diameter. The
first crab expired in ABOUT one hour, and when
taken off cad cut open it was found that it was
perfectly black all through. Since that time
they have been applied daily, and now single
crab remains on the wound for five hours with
out expiring. and the wound to-day presents q
decidedly more healthy appearance ana is hard
| ~ an inch ia diameter.
When the doctors despaired Of saving the life
| OF Mr.. Hertz and notified him that he would lie,
| his neck was terribly swollen: he could neither
| move his head nor arms, and found 1t impossible
to sleep at night account of the terrible pain
| he endured. At present he can move his head
and arms freely, walks around the room with
| ease, and sleeps from eight to eleven hours q
night He eats heartily and seems to enjoy his
| meals.
| The crabs act by sucking the virus from the
| wound, thus keeping it clean and preventing the
poison from being distributed throughout the
| system. None Of the doctors have visited him
I since he commenced the use Of crabs, but his
| friends and relatives now seem to have no doub,
| OF his recovery, thinking, as the old German
| book states, that the cancer will eventually be
entirely hsaled and cured BY this remedy.